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Old April 15, 2014, 06:50 PM   #1
Blindstitch
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Forming 30-40 krag out of 303 British

Is it possible to form 303 British brass into 30-40. And if so is it straight forward as running it through a full length die. Or does it need to be annealed?

A personal locally has a lot of 303 British brass for sale and it might be worth the trouble vs buying new 30-40 brass.

One of my books seems to suggest that if you need 303 to use 30-40 but doesn't say anything about going the other way.
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Old April 15, 2014, 07:48 PM   #2
BillM
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From Nonte's Caliber Conversion book:

30/40 Krag

Form from 303 British

Size full length in 30/40 die, Fire Form, Use .308 bullets.

That's about as simple as it gets in a caliber conversion!
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Old April 15, 2014, 08:02 PM   #3
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303

FYI, you can also use .303 brass for .410 shot shells.
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Old April 15, 2014, 08:04 PM   #4
Blindstitch
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Don't tell me that. I was thinking of using 444 for 410 brass shells. Might have to see what the process is for 303 to 410.
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Old April 15, 2014, 08:05 PM   #5
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I would say that in would be highly unlikely to turn a 303 case into a 30-40 krag.

In the specs I have, the max case length for the 303 is 2.222" and the 30-40 krag is 2.314"
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Old April 15, 2014, 08:25 PM   #6
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Just size, load, and fireform. They're rimmed cases, so you don't have to worry about headspacing on shoulders, or any of the sort.

For a year, or so, the only brass I could get my hands on for my .30-40 was .303 British. I ended up preferring the .303 brass for some bullets (the Hornady 220 gr RN, perhaps), because the shorter neck gave me a better OAL for crimping.



Quote:
I would say that in would be highly unlikely to turn a 303 case into a 30-40 krag.

In the specs I have, the max case length for the 303 is 2.222" and the 30-40 krag is 2.314"
They work fine. They just have a shorter neck.
It's a long neck, to begin with. So it isn't much of a handicap.





Quote:
Don't tell me that. I was thinking of using 444 for 410 brass shells. Might have to see what the process is for 303 to 410.
.444 Marlin brass will work better. It has more capacity, and is a straight-taper case.
.303 British, on the other hand, has to be opened up/blow out; and will result in a Wasp-waisted case with lower capacity.
In addition, you frequently have to turn down the rim of .303 British or .30-40 Krag cases, for use as .410 hulls. .444 Marlin, on the other hand... is good to go.

Of course, .303 British brass is usually easier to find than .444 Marlin brass. And right now, 700 Billion Ohioans are buying .444 Marlin firearms to use under the new 'pistol cartridge rifle' law. So, .444 brass will be 10 times harder to get.
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Old April 15, 2014, 08:59 PM   #7
Blindstitch
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Thanks for the info guys.

FrankenMauser,
I have a good line on 444 Marlin since my dad doesn't believe in reloading. He was bit a few times with big deer in his sights and rounds that didn't fire for some reason. So it's factory ammo for him and free brass for me.

Didn't think 444 marlin fit the pistol caliber regulation for Ohio but good for them.
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Old April 16, 2014, 12:36 AM   #8
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Quote:
ammo.crafter

FYI, you can also use .303 brass for .410 shot shells.
I am looking at SAAMI drawings
The .410 chamber is:
0.0532 - 0.0672" rim space
0.5050" rim diameter
0.4811 - 0.4861" base diameter

The 303 Brit cartridge is:
0.054 - 0.064" rim thickness -> 50% chance of fitting
0.525 - 0.540" rim diameter -> 0% chance of fitting
0.4474 - 0.4554" base diameter -> 0.026" of slop

I am looking at my one [can't believe I have given away all but one 410] and many types of 303 Brit brass.
Action will almost close.
Extractor does not extract.
Rim gets stuck inside the extractor and has to be pried out.
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